Sun Road opens up over Logan Pass

The Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park is now completely open. The road was expected to have a “soft opening” last night, but a snowslide delayed that until crews could clear it off the road early this morning.

Services at Logan Pass include restrooms and potable water, as well as a book shop.

At Logan Pass, visitors will discover lingering winter snow, and should be prepared for cold temperatures, wind, and icy conditions. Standing or walking on snow along the road is strongly discouraged. Be aware of snow walls along the Going-to-the-Sun Road, and hazardous snow bridges that could collapse next to the road, particularly near Big Bend, the Big Drift, Lunch Creek, and Siyeh Bend.

The Highline Trail from Logan Pass is still closed due to snow conditions.

Glacier’s free shuttle service up the highway is set to start July 1, with stops at key trailheads along the way.

Rehabilitation work on the Going-to-the-Sun Road will continue this year with activity on the west side of the park from the West Glacier Entrance Station to Avalanche. This is the last segment of the Going-to-the-Sun Road rehabilitation project that began in 2007 and includes a segment of roadway reconstruction near Apgar, pull-out reconstruction, and drainage rehabilitation. A new vault toilet will be installed approximately one mile west of the Avalanche area to serve as a quick rest stop for through travelers. Removable guardrail work above Haystack Creek in the alpine section of the road will also occur. Visitors should expect up to 30 minute cumulative delays across the road through the summer and into fall.

Beginning Sept. 5, traffic along the Going-to-the-Sun Road will be detoured through the Apgar Village area to facilitate roadway construction. Between Oct. 9 and Oct. 21, there will be a full vehicle closure at the four way intersection at Apgar to facilitate a significant culvert replacement project approximately four miles up Lake McDonald. This means that Oct. 8 will be the last day to access Logan Pass from the west side for the season. Sun Point has reopened this year to visitors with amenities including picnicking, transit, restrooms, and hiking.

Now that the road has fully opened to vehicle traffic, the spring hiker-biker shuttle has stopped operating. Bicyclists are reminded that bicycle safety restrictions on the Going-to-the-Sun-Road are in effect, and remain in effect through Labor Day, Sept. 4. Bicycles are prohibited between Apgar Campground, and Sprague Creek Campground from 11 a.m. to 4 pm. Bicycles are prohibited eastbound (uphill) between Logan Creek and Logan Pass from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Vehicles and vehicle combinations longer than 21 feet, and wider than 9 feet, are prohibited along the road between Avalanche Campground and Rising Sun. Vehicles over 10 feet in height may have difficulty driving west from Logan Pass due to rock overhangs.